Small Business Stories -Truck Covers USA

Alex Fees: I am Alex Fees on Small Business Television, we are coming to you from the SEMA 2008 that's Specialty Equipment Market Association in Las Vegas, Nevada. And joining me here now is Nils Forssman. Nils good to having you, sir! Nils Forssman: Thank you for having me! Alex Fees: Nils is the President of his own company Truck Covers USA, correct? Nils Forssman: Yes. Alex Fees: Well, Nils we've met before, you have been on sbtv.com before, the past two or three years. Nils Forssman: I have. Alex Fees: There is a lot of different ways to cover a truck. There is a lot going on in the truck cover industry, is there not? Nils Forssman: Well, that's why we're excited too. Each year we've been able to bring some new features and benefits to the trucks that we accessorize in. Besides our attractable turner cover we added the toolbox. And this year we launched a roof rack which is like a basket that fits on top at a high end, high quality, really awesome finish that one can put luggage on top of the truck which you are always looking for additional space, where to put in a luggage or a transport surfboards, skis and all that it does accessories even kayaks. So we are excited to be able to -- Alex Fees: And your covers are really designed especially for pick-up trucks or --? Nils Forssman: Well, we cater for the pick-up market. With the roof-racks that we've launched there will be a cross of it, they will be able to use on SUVs as well. So we excited about that in future. Alex Fees: There seems just to be a lot of activity in this marketplace. Tell me what your experience has been here at SEMA in the two or three years that you have been here? Nils Forssman: Each year we have seen because as we grow our product range we simply find more customers, more dealers out there and we are really excited about that. We were a little hesitant about this year, we would definitely going to attend. But we were -- everybody was wondering what was going to happen this year, where the economy, where it is and we've had two wonderful guys. Alex Fees: Right. Nils Forssman: We've had some really quality dealers come by. I think there is still a lot of optimism out there, we optimistic about the future. With our product range and what we've seen in the industry, it has slowed down. But there is a lot of good things happening out there and I think if we just keep working through this together we will see some good times ahead. Alex Fees: And SEMA officials will say that as well, they say the membership is down a bit this year. But it's still well over 100,000 here at SEMA 2008, so that is certainly good. So what you see in the future, is your industry going to keep advancing at the same pace that it has been? Nils Forssman: Well, the big concern was when the gas cost went up, truck sales went down. Truck sales goes down and it affects our industry. But what happens, there is a lot of people are keeping their existing trucks and saying, I am not going to get a new truck this year, but I'll accessorize what I have, and that's worked for us. Fortunately for us, our product is a gas saving product. It can save anyway from 7-10% on gas mileage. Alex Fees: How so, how is it a gas-saving product? Nils Forssman: Because of the turbulence in the back of the truck bin. Alex Fees: So it reduces that. Nils Forssman: Reduces that by having a cover on it so closing up the bit. It reduces that drag on the truck and then it saves you on gas. And we've had some wind-tunnel tests done and we were at even at the GM wind-tunnel facility in Detroit and they once said, one of the great ways to save gas is to put a tunnel cover on the back of your truck. Alex Fees: Now I know as your product, is it a practical matter just to sort of hold things in place or do you target the outdoor market? Nils Forssman: We talk to all markets whether you are working in construction, whether you are fishing, whether you are guiding with your sports equipment, because our product besides aesthetically good looking, it has a security feature and that's become a big deal for us. So the gas is the one thing, but the security is a second thing, that's really made our product stand out in these tough times that people besides it's not just to some accessory that they are putting on their truck to look good, there is value to it. They use it to lock up and secure their car, whether they are working or they are plain. And guys ride motocross secure their car guy in the back of the bed, go off riding, when they come back with all the gasoline in the bed, because it's locked up in the truck. Alex Fees: Right. Nils Forssman: So those features have definitely helped us. And aesthetically we've obviously improved the looks and done changes to our products as it's evolved which have made it a more appealing to our customers. Alex Fees: And Nils where can sbtv.com viewers go to get more information about your product? Nils Forssman: We have a really great website truckcoversusa.com and they can go on there and we have all our products plus LED light and all other accessories that we have and have a look at that. If they have any questions, our contact details are online and we would welcome them to call us. Alex Fees: Truckcoversusa.com. Nils Forssman: Yes. Alex Fees: Nils Forssman, thank you sir! Nils Forssman: Thank you! Alex Fees: Good to see you again! I am Alex Fees on Small Business Television coming to you from SEMA 2008 in Las Vegas.